Question

an observer on the earth sees a light pulse within a space ship which is moving at a constant speed of one-half the speed of light (0.5c). the earth-bound observer measures the speed of the light pulse as it travels from one end of the ship to the other. what speed does the observer measure for the light pulse?

Answer 1

The speed at which the Earth-bound observer measures the light pulse traveling from one end of the spaceship to the other is 1.5 times the speed of light (1.5c).

Step-by-step explanation:

The speed at which the Earth-bound observer measures the light pulse traveling from one end of the spaceship to the other can be found using the relativistic velocity addition formula. According to this formula, the observed velocity (v') is given by:

v' = (v + u) / (1 + (u * v) / c^2)

Where v is the velocity of light as observed from the spaceship (c) and u is the velocity of the spaceship (0.5c).

Substituting the given values into the formula, we get:

v' = (c + 0.5c) / (1 + (0.5c * c) / c^2)

Simplifying the expression, we find:

v' = (1.5c) / (1 + 0.5)

Therefore, the speed at which the Earth-bound observer measures the light pulse is 1.5 times the speed of light (1.5c).